Cancer kills Indian drug pioneer, Anji Reddy, at 72

18 Mar 2013, BioSpectrum Bureau , BioSpectrum

Bangalore: Dr Kallam Anji Reddy, the founder and chairman of the $2 billion Indian pharma giant, Dr Reddy's Laboratories (DRL), died of cancer in Hyderabad at the age of 72 on March 15, 2013. Dr Reddy's mission in life was to provide innovative new medicines at a price that the common man could afford. His passion for research is evident from the fact that Dr Reddy's Laboratories became the first pharmaceutical company of India to initiate basic drug discovery research in 1993.

He obtained his BSc in pharmaceutical science and fine chemicals from Bombay University and his PhD in chemical engineering from National Chemical Laboratory, Pune. He served in the state-owned IDPL before he founded DRL in 1984. Dr Reddy also set-up the Institute of Life Sciences and in 1998, set up the Naandi Foundation as a charitable trust. Naandi is probably India's largest rural safe drinking water provider, and gives midday meals to 1.3 million government school-going children and farmers. He also spearheaded and founded the Neo Natal Intensive Care and Emergencies called NICE Foundation, the only institute for newborns in Asia.

Dr Reddy won several eminent accolades throughout his career, the most prominent being the Padma Bhushan (one of the highest civilian awards in India), which was awarded to him by the Government of India in April 2011 in recognition of his distinguished service of high order in the field of trade and industry.

Dr Reddy served as a member of the Indian Prime Minister's council on trade and industry. He was the chairman of Andhra Pradesh Industrial Development Corporation (APIDC), and president of the Indian Pharmaceutical Alliance. He served as a board member of Global Alliance for Improved Nutrition (GAIN), Switzerland, and on the board of TB Alliance, US.

Mr Satish Reddy, MD and COO, Dr Reddy's Laboratories and son of the late Dr Reddy, said that, "Dr Anji Reddy touched millions of lives through his contribution to the pharmaceutical industry and his philanthropic efforts. In improving access to affordable, high quality medicines and in innovation, his contributions have been extraordinary. His philanthropic initiatives made a difference in the lives of so many Indians in the areas of livelihood, education, clean drinking water and healthcare. A nation is grateful to a man who paved a way for the delivery of affordable medicines to the masses and made us believe and take pride in innovation as a means to prosperity."